Mental health – articles and advice
Anxiety
Features on mental wellbeing, managing stress and living with mental health conditions. For trusted reference, see our Patient Information Leaflets on mental health.
Anxiety
Anxiety causes worry, panic, and restlessness. Learn about common triggers, how to manage symptoms, and the treatments that can help restore calm.
- Managing PTSD during fireworks season
- Why do some people experience summer anxiety?
- What it's like to experience claustrophobia
- Things people with PTSD wish you knew
- Skin-picking and hair-pulling: managing body-focused repetitive behaviours
- How to get help for hypochondria and health anxiety
- How to spot the symptoms of social anxiety
- How to deal with test anxiety
- What it's really like to have OCD
- How to manage social anxiety during Christmas gatherings
- The link between anxiety and insomnia
- How to support someone through a panic attack
- The breathing techniques to try if you have anxiety
- How to tackle poor body image in older women
- Overcoming your fear of needles
- Can anxiety cause cancer?
- What therapies can treat PTSD?
- How to deal with negative body image in the summer
- Coping with OCD as lockdown eases
- How to get over a fear of blood tests
- Why it's normal to feel anxious about a post-COVID future
- Can magnesium help with anxiety?
- What to do if you have a panic attack in public
- What is toxic masculinity and how does it affect men?
- What to do when the news is making you anxious
- What happens to your body during a panic attack?
- How money worries can affect your health
- Does hypnotherapy work for anxiety?
- What it's like to have postnatal OCD
- How to cope with climate change anxiety
- How to stay body positive over Christmas
- What it's like to have muscle dysmorphic disorder
- How to stop worrying about things you can't change
- Alcohol and anxiety: can booze trigger panic attacks?
- Why do we find it comforting to re-watch our favourite movies?
- What you need to know about intrusive thoughts and OCD
- Relaxation exercises
- Can anxiety cause depression?
- How to deal with back to work anxiety
- How to manage health anxiety in a post-pandemic world
- How to overcome a fear of flying
- Why video calls can leave you anxious and exhausted
- A fear of holes: what triggers trypophobia?
- Thalassophobia: how to manage your fear of the ocean
- Am I having a panic attack or a heart attack?
- Why your anxiety at night can feel so intense
- Quiz: Do I have OCD?
Depression
Feeling persistently low or hopeless? Learn about the signs of depression, what causes it, and how talking therapies or medicines can help you feel better.
- How to cope with the loss of a friend
- Can spending time in nature benefit your mental health?
- Does breastfeeding prevent postnatal depression?
- When to take a mental health day at work - and how to talk to your boss
- Can exercise really help with depression?
- Why do I feel depressed in the New Year?
- How to cope with the physical symptoms of grief
- Why does seasonal affective disorder (SAD) make us crave carbs?
- What to do if you get the urge to self-harm
- What should I do if I feel suicidal?
- Managing grief during your first Christmas without a loved one
- How gut bacteria affect mood, focus and brain health
- Daylight Savings Time: Why the clocks changing can affect our health
- More than just entertainment: Jeanie Y. Chang on K-dramas and mental health
- How to combat winter depression and increase your serotonin
- How to support someone with depression
- How to cope with New Year after losing a loved one
- How to boost your motivation levels during winter
- Sunday scaries: How to beat Sunday night anxiety
- Why do some people struggle with summer depression?
- National Day of Reflection: coping with grief after losing a loved one to COVID-19
- How to support someone bereaved by suicide
- How can grief damage your self-esteem?
- Coping with grief after losing a loved one to lung cancer
- Can men experience postnatal depression?
- Eating dark chocolate may reduce odds of depression
- Alarming' rise in self-harm in young people
- Grief and young people: how to cope with loss
- Do supplements work for depression?
- How a chronic illness affects your mental health
- Are men or women less likely to get help for depression?
- How to deal with the death of a pet
- How to beat the end-of-summer blues
- How to stave off depression in later life
- What it's like to work for a suicide prevention helpline
- Are mental health problems in new mothers being missed?
- Can spring make depression worse?
- How long is grief supposed to last?
- Video: Why do people get depressed?
- Is social media making us depressed?
- Do holidays help or hinder depression?
- How to talk to children about death
- The reality of life after surviving a suicide attempt
- Re-sparkling - the science of finding more joy
- What are the signs of depression in men?
- Diapression: unravelling the link between diabetes and depression
- Grief: how to cope with the finality of death
- What to do if you feel lonely
- Winter wellness tips: how to cope with SAD
- Coping with grief during the coronavirus pandemic
- Quiz: Am I depressed?
Eating disorders
Eating disorders like anorexia or bulimia affect both body and mind. Learn about warning signs, the importance of early help, and how treatment works.
- How to gain weight after having an eating disorder
- You don't have to be underweight to have an eating disorder
- Working with food when you have an eating disorder
- Why is anorexia on the rise?
- How to manage pregnancy when you have an eating disorder
- Debunking eating disorder myths and stereotypes
- Anorexia may be a physical illness, as well as psychological
- Eating disorders in athletes: how can we tackle them?
- How common is binge eating disorder and how does it affect people?
- What is the difference between disordered eating and an eating disorder?
- How to help if your child has an eating disorder
- Video: What are the causes of anorexia?
- What triggers eating disorders in men?
- Meal plan tips for eating disorder recovery
- How to help a friend with an eating disorder
- Do shrinking fashion sizes promote anorexia?
- How do stereotypes prevent Black people from seeking help for eating disorders?
- How common are male eating disorders?
- Connections between 'clean eating' and orthorexia
Insomnia
Struggling to sleep? Insomnia can leave you exhausted and frustrated. Discover possible causes, self-help tips, and when to get professional advice.
- CBT for insomnia: how does it work?
- What is polyphasic or biphasic sleep, and is it good for you?
- What are sleep trackers and do they work?
- Understanding the cause of your sleep problems
- Should you keep a dream journal?
- How to sleep-proof your relationship
- How to sleep better
- Can the clocks changing affect insomnia?
- Can a new bed improve your insomnia?
- Is sleep apnoea dangerous? When snoring problems turn serious
- How getting older affects your sleep
- Do you need more sleep in winter?
- What your dreams can reveal about your health
- How revenge bedtime procrastination affects your health - and how to avoid it
- Tips for better sleep in summer
- How to improve your sleep behaviour
- Gene discovery may explain why some people cope on little sleep
- Why do we need sleep?
- What binge-watching is really doing to your health
- Do naps count as sleep?
- Why phones should be banned from the bedroom
- What causes sleepwalking and how can you stop?
- Does getting good sleep really improve your skin?
- Is it really worth tracking your sleep?
- What causes sleep paralysis?
- Healthier ways to get your TV fix
- What's the right temperature for sleep?
- Sleep diary
- Do teenagers really need more sleep?
- How to fix your sleep schedule with a healthy bedtime routine
Mental health medicines
- Should I switch antidepressants?
- How to switch antidepressants safely
- When should you stop taking antidepressants?
- Can antidepressants cause vivid dreams?
- Will taking antidepressants really lead to weight gain?
- How to avoid antidepressant withdrawal symptoms
- What is serotonin syndrome and what causes it?
- Why is there still stigma around antidepressants?
Mental health therapy
Talking therapies like CBT can help manage emotional distress. Discover the types of therapy available and how they offer tools for coping and recovery.
- How to choose a therapist
- How to decide between different types of therapy
- Are facial workouts good for sleep, speech and oral health?
- Is ASMR the secret to sensory bliss?
- What to expect when your child starts talking therapy
- What is transactional analysis therapy?
- Pets as therapy: benefits for all ages
- Can you have therapy if you don't have a mental health problem?
- What is dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT)?
- What is psychodynamic therapy?
- Why is therapy so exhausting?
- Could you benefit from music therapy?
Other mental health problems
Not every mental health issue fits a label. Explore less common conditions and understand how healthcare professionals can support you or a loved one.
- How borderline personality disorder affects your life
- How to stop procrastinating
- Why you should take up a creative hobby this year
- What it's like to experience psychosis
- Living with post-traumatic embitterment disorder
- Do you have an anger problem?
- Video: What are the different types of mental health disorder?
- Building resilience: how to bounce back from life's challenges
- What is Swedish death cleaning and how can it benefit you?
- Emotional dysregulation: what it is and how to cope
- Facing your fear of the doctor: tips for easing medical anxiety
- Can 'prescribed' laughter help people recover from trauma?
- Mental health: keeping track of your symptoms and early interventions
- What it's like living with schizophrenia
- Spotting the signs of a personality disorder
- What is post-traumatic embitterment disorder (PTED)?
- How to support someone with psychosis
- Is maladaptive daydreaming a sign of mental illness?
Stress
Too much stress can affect your body and mood. Learn how to spot the signs, what causes it, and healthy ways to manage it.
- Redefining work-life balance: what is the Quiet Quitting movement?
- Transform your sleep: a guide to overcoming stress dreams
- Parental burnout: your guide to understanding and overcoming it
Stress management
- How to practise self-care
- Signs your job is making you sick
- Why are UK students the most stressed over studying maths?
- The worst foods to eat when you're feeling stressed
- How to avoid stress over Christmas and the New Year
- Can regular massages improve your mental health?
- Why your long commute is bad for your health
- How to say no to a Christmas invite
- Can rage rooms help you de-stress?
- Could keeping a journal help your mental health?
- Which foods can reduce your stress and anxiety?
- 9 tips to enjoy yourself and budget well this Christmas
- Why self-care for men is so important
- Can watching horror films reduce stress?
- Can hugging be good for your health?
- Exam time: stress-relieving toys and gadgets
- How food affects your mood
- Can exercise help you feel less stressed?
- How students and teachers can beat exam stress
- When can procrastinating be healthy?
- How to cope with the stress of being a new parent
- Can shaking exercises improve stress and PTSD?
- Playing with cats and dogs reduces stress levels
- What working overtime is really doing to your health
- Why do so many of us struggle with meditation?
- The warning signs of stress
- How to overcome imposter syndrome
- Can playing video games help your mental health?
- The surprising ways stress can affect your body
- The best mindfulness apps, according to experts
- Why walking your dog can boost your mental health
- What are the signs of a midlife crisis?
- 5 healthy ways to handle money problems in your relationship
- How to be a calm parent when you're stressed
- What are the symptoms of burnout?
- Stress-relieving tips to try every day
- Can stress cause vertigo?